Folding-machine.



P. R. GLASS.

FOLDiNG MACHINE. APPLICATION man 1AN.la.191o.

`P. R. GLASS. FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION man 1Au.|a.191o. f

P wma May 1, 1917 1 SHEETS-SHEET 4 @W "CUL-:A949565 P. R. GLASS. FOLDINGMACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.13. 1910.

Patented May 1, 1917.

SHEETS-SHEET 5.

P. R. GLASS.

FOLDING MACHINE. APPucATmN mgm 1AN.13.1910.

Patented May 1, 1917.

TSHEETS-SHEET E fm1/@rotor P. R. GLAS FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED IAN-13,1910.

1,224,529. Patented May1,1917.

ISHEETS--SHEET 7.

cation.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

APERLEY B. GLASS, 0F BOSTON,` MASSACMUSETTS,l aLSSIGNOI,` T0 P. R. GLASS COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION O1 MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Applicationled January 13, 1910. Serial No. 537,947.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, PERLEY R. GLASS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of. Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which the following is a specili- This invention relates to machines for foldingV or doubling over the edges of sheet material such as pieces ofy leather used 1n `the manufacture of boot and shoe uppers." ySuch pieces usually are folded at those edges which are exposed in the finished shoe, the folding being done to prevent eXposing of a raw" edge of leather at a seam on they exterior'of the shoe. Previous to the foldin operation, the edge upon `which the fold is to be formed is usually skived to 'a thin edge as the thickness of the on a bevel. which extends over approximately double the width of the folded strip, so that the thickness at the fold when the doubling operation is complete is practically the same My object 1n devising the present invention was to produceal machine by which the edge of a sheet of leather or other material of any extent may be doubled over a little at a time, and to enable the fold to. lie

smoothly at curvedv parts of such edge. The latter object is accomplished by providing a shipping cutter to make incisions or slits lnormal to the edge of the stock at the points where the latter is curved, so that separate tongues are thereby formed which may be laid over smoothly withoutstretch# lng Where the curvature 1s concave,

ering where it is convex. lAnother object E has been to provide means for throwing the i edgesthat the stock .need be slitted.

shipping cutter into andout of action when desired, for` it is only in acting upon curved Another object is to enable the rate of feed of the stock with relation to the folding or` turning devices to be varied7 so that when straight edges are acted upon, time may be4 savedin the folding operation, and when the edges are curved the slits made at these points bythe snipping cutter maybe located sufficiently close together to make a smooth and unpuckered fold. Finally, subsidiary to the foregoing has been to pro vide a generally novel and `improved machine for the purpose, having folding instrumeutalities constructed to act progressivelyI .to be folded., 1n a better' and more eiicient manner thanV Whole sheet. of stock.

i' of Fig. 3.

an object,

co itiguous lengths of the edge a1 d to obtain the final result upon" limited has hitherto be n possible.

In the acconpanying drawings I haveillustrated a. Ina :hine Which l have invented to carry the abo` e objects into effect, the said machine embody machine hereinbefore ing the principles which at. presentare pref a'red by me, itbeing understood, however, that the 4means and instrumentalities" shou n are n'ierely illustrative of, one mode in Wlich the invention mayy be lgs Figure 1 represents a the base portion thereof being'g` cof Fig. 4 is a hoi izontal section on line lf-4L ofliig. 3.

Fig. is a fro ht elevation of the foldingl devices shown in detail on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a plaii vieuT of part of the Work table, the foldingr mechanism being shown insec'tion on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a secti anal pla-n view on line 77 Fig. S is a hor zontalsection on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. `9 is a se tion on theline v9---9'of Fig. S.

Fig. 10 repress its a sectiontalen on line,

10-10 of Fig. 8

s Figs. 11, l2, 13 and 14 are-viewsV sho-vying1 1n elevation the falding instrumentalities in different position s.

Fig. 15 is a pl: n view showing the character of work pro iuced by this machine and the relation of th( work to the presser, snipping cutteixand iolder.

The same refers nce characters indicate the sa'lnetiparts in all the figures. Referring to the drawings work table 2, here represented as heilig circular in form. .At the rear of the base rises the column 3, from which projects a. horizontal arm el extending over the table. The arm 4 carries at its end separated guide` members 5, G, in which .areformed alining n ,the machine isL 'shown as comprising a base l,.hav1ng4 a roo holes or passages to receive and guide ,the

reciprocating bars whichare a feature of this machine, and are hereinafter fully described.

In bearings 7 and 8 formed `at the front and rear ends of the arm 4 is`rotatively conrainedv a main drive' shaft 9 having on its outer or rea-r end means by which it may he rotated,'such as the belt pulleys 10 and handwheel 11. On the forward-end of the shaft v9 is a cam disk 12, by which the Dresser, .folder and snipper are' reciprocated."

The pressing -device by which the work is held upon the Atable while the folding means and the snipping cutter' (when operating) ac't:is shown as afoot or clamp 13 connected by a. curved arm with' a split clamping sleeve 14 upon va presser bar 15, which reciprocates verticallyin the guides 5 and 6. This bar and presser foot vare normally pressed against the table by a spring 16 en'- gaged with, the under side of the guide 5\ and pressing downwardly upon anv adjustable split collar 17, which is clamped by means of ascrew '18 in any desired position uponthe bar. the tension of the spring by an arm 19 carrying a .roll 20, 'which rests against the pe` riphery of'the cam disk 512 and is raised whenever a protuberance 21 onthe disk engages it.v This arm 19 is secured to a rock shaft 22,'the lat-'ter 'carrying a second arm 23 and is connected with the 'collar 17 by a vlink 24.'y The manner in which these elementsV act isf-obvious. The rock 'shaft 22 isheld in a bearing 25 I(Figs. 1 and 2) formedupon an arm,26, which rises from a bracket-27 projecting laterally' from the forward end of the arm 4.'

` -At the junction of the arm 26 withtlie bracket'-4 2 7 isl a 4bearing sleeve 28, in which is contained a pivotl stu'd 29, whereon is 'ulcrumed'l a lever 30 which extends across -the..fa`ce of the-:cam disk 12 and carries a roll 31 projecting vinto a groove. 32 in the face of .the disk. This rollis mounted upon a studwhich is secured in a short upwardly .projecting lug of the lever 30.` The outer end of the lever is connected by a link 34 to an earprojecting from a collar or sleeve 36,--n1ounted upon and vsecured to the bar 38 beside the presser bar 1 5, and, like the latter, -reciproeable vertically in the guides 5 and 6; 'This bar .38` supports and assists in operatin the folder or turning device hereinafter escribe'd.

Parallel to the bars l'and 38vk is a third bar 39, also reciprocable 4in the guides 5 and 6 and carrying a snippingknife 40.

This knife projects downward from a holder 41 secured to the. lower end of the bar, 39', and is normally held byl a spring 42 so that its lower end on which the cutting edgev is formed'is. above the surface of the table 2. Thespring 42 rests on the guide The latter is raised against i ating the same.

6 and acts upwardly against the collar 43 clamped upon the bar 39 by-a screw 44. A collar 45 adjustably secured upon the bar 39 limits the extent to which the spring may raise this bar and the associated snip- 1 ping knife 40. l

The knife'bar and knife are reciprocated by the sleeve or head 36 when the knife is put into operation, and a detachable engagementbetw'een the bar and sleeve is provided to permit the knife to be rendered inoperative when the folding is carried on without -snipping The collar 43 has a wing 47 (see Figs. 8, 9 and 10) which extends into a Slot or guideway 48 between wings 49 and 50,l which project from one side of the sleeveg36. A pin 51 isl supported by the wings 49 and 50 and crosses the slot 48. A head 52 is formed on the pin or rod 51 Vand is. contained in a perforation in the win0r 49, being somewhat longer than the thickness of said wing, so that it may have a limited movement into and out of the slot 48. It is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9, wherein it partially crosses the slots 48 and overlies the wing or arm 47, being held in this position by a spring 53 bearing against a collar 54 secured upon the pin 51. The spring and collar are inclosed in a sleeve 55 formed integrally with and projecting laterally from the wing 50. When the head 52 is in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 it bears against the extension V47 of the collar 43 and causes the latter to be depressed whenever the lever 30 and sleeve 36 are moved downward. Vhen the latter elements rise the collar 43, and with it the bar 39 and snipper 40, are raised. Thus the snipping knife is reciprocated through the alternating action ofZ When the rod4 the head 52 and spring 42. 51zis pushed outward sufficiently far to carry the inner end of the head 52 up toy in the arm 47. Whenin this position reclprocation of the sleeve 36 has no effect upon the bar 39,' but the latter and the snipplng knife remain stationary. The means for thus moving the rod 51 and the head 52 so as to disable the snipping knife is hereinafter described.

I will now proceed to describe the folding or turning devices and the means for oper- 0n the lower end of the reciprocating bar 38 is a head 58 on the rear part of which is formed a socket 59. This socket carries a pin 60 which forms a bearing for the folder, by which the latter is supported and on which it may move laterally. The part of the folder which is directly engaged with the pin 60 is a hub 61 from which two arms 62 depend, the hub prefer-lily being 'made in two parts `secured together andone of the arms being formed on each of these parts. These arms are parallel to each other, as shown in Fig. 5, and each carries a circularly curved guide 63, passing through an opening 64C in the table 2.4 In the inner or adjacent faces of the guides 63 are grooves 65 shown best in Figs. and 6, and indicated also by dotted lines in Figs. 3, 11, 12, '13 and 14. These guides support a folding device which oscillates about the center of curvature of the grooves and is illustrated in detail in Figs.

'11 to 14. The folding device or member' may be projected by the spring.V This sleeve 67 is formed directlyA upon a curved arm` 73 having circularly curved ribs 7l on opposite sides thereof, which are contained vin the curved grooves vv65 of the guide members 63. A perforated lugl 75 is formed on the curved arm ,73 and is moved'backand 4fourth to oscillate the folder or edge-turner by mechanism presently to bedescribed. As Will presentlybe explained, one function 'of the block 66 is to press the fold, and consen quently vthis block with the plunger T) and its shank 69, all of `Which'are rigidly c0n,

nected, may be termed -a fold presser. It has been explalnedabove that the fold presser may -be adjusted in-its sleeve or housing 67 by manipulating the adjusting and locking nuts 72. It shouldl be noted, however, that manipulation of these nuts serves also to vary the tension of the spring 68 and that adjustment ofthe fold presser in its housing Without varying said tension 'may be accomplished `loy turning the ythreaded sleeve 71.

' Operating in Vconjunction with the foldera slide77 beneath the table 'which carlries a block 478 contained in the 4foiwvard part ofthe opening: previously referred to, and

4- which is flush with the'surface of the table.V

This block isdirectly opposite to thefol-dmember 66 and supports the edge of the sheet material up* to the line of folding It 4 also coperates Withv `the folder, after the edge is doubled over to sustain Vthe pressure of the folder and thus forms a vcomplemental"fold-pressingmember. While the lfolded stock is gripped between the edge turner or folder 66 and the block 78 the slide 77 is givena lateral movement to feed the stock and thus the folder' and block constitute complemental grippersby Which a step-by- The spring surrounds a shank 69n step' feed is giver to the stock. Theslide 7 7 also'has an aperi ure 79 beneath the opening 64 of the table, through which the members 63 of the folder extend. `l1ese guide members are connected with the slide uide so as' tobe moved laterally with the feeding movement therec f, and at the same time to have' provision for an up and down movement, which, -in the present embodiment of the invention, is necessary to carry out the folding operatior. The meansfor connecting the fo'lder guides to the slide consist of posts or bearing rods 8l l projecting downward from the slide on each side of the opening 79 and Asleeves 81 embracing said posts and Vconnected'each with one of the curved guide members' 63. When lhe slide is moved laterally -the posts 81 cal ry the folder guides and folder with it, the hub portion 61 of the folder guides th an moving" laterally" along bar 38, by which the folder is supported as previously descr lbed, is reciprocated, the sleeves 81 slide up and down on the posts 80. 'The slide 77 is piu `ferably a rectangular plate of Whichgthe outl .ne is shown in dotted lines Vthe supporting 10d or pin' 60. .When the in Fig. 6, and is supported by Ways 82 formed in the tol) of' the `base 1 underlying those edges of the slide which extend in the direction of its notion.

Coperating vv: th the folder to locate the line of the fold or zrease accurately is a membe 84 Which for convenience of description ma be termed'a' :rease or fold guide. yThis member yas shown best in Figs. 11, 12, 13 and `14:, Tis located above the block 78 and near the edge thereof adjacent to the folder 66, and bears, against the upper side of the stock (Which is :'epresented by 85) on the linelabout vvhich the edgefis to be folded. This fold guide Xtends in the direction of feed of the stock, being shoW-nin plan View in Fig. 7, and is securedto the end of an armf86, which is oivoted to a stud 8 7. The

latter is carried ly a bracket 88, which del pends from the under side oflthe'lovver guide 6. .A spring 89 is coiled arounfdithe with a yielding pressure against the'stock.

"From the fore 0in description the mode of operation of t e fo ding instrumentalities stud 8-7 and vbeai's4 against` the bracket 88 j and .arm 86, tend n g to hold the fold guide' will be readily .uiderstood The stock be ing laid upon' the 'tablei's pushed across'the opening 64 thereiruntil fits edge encounters a gage 90 (showr best in Fig. 7,) which is secured to the tal le and is provided with. a

slot t0 permit of a limited back and forth adjustment. The presser foothaving been elevated when the stock is inserted, is'caused to'descend throu i the action of the springl bythe cam 21 'and inter- 16` when release medi-ate 'connectir Ins previously described, and grips the-stoel z, being provided with two projections` and 92 on opposite sides of that portion of the opening in the table which receives the block 78, as shown in Fig. 6. The edge of the stock when in contact with the gage'90 projects beyond the edge of the block 78 above the turning or folding device 66, and the crease guide' or crease 84 bears against the upper surface of the stock. As the end vef the folder 66 abuts against the block 78, the edge of the crease guide is practically coincident with the meeting line between the folder and block. The parts are then in the position shown i-n Fig. 11,

' with the folder horizontal and its upper side flush With the surface of the block and table. i

It should be noted that the folder 66 is rectangular and preferably of the same'dimensions as the block 78, as shown in Fig. 6,.

where the folder 66 is shown in section partlybroken away and one -end of the block 78 is shownin plan. In this position the folder-carrying bar 38 is depressed to its lowest limit. The folder bar .38 is then raised, carrying the folder into the position shown in-Fig. 12. The end of the folder in rising turns the edge of the stock upward about the crease guide 84, the spring 89 of the latter` being sufliciently strong to hold the stock down on the support. At the end of the upward travel of the folder the lower edge thereof is at the same level with and close to the nearest-edge of the block 78v and, as this line coincideswith'the center of curvature of the guide members 68, the folder when `moved in the guide members is caused to turn about this line, (which is also the line of fold) as an axis, and so fold over the u' turned edge, as shown in Figs. 18 and 14. Tie crease guide ismoved out of the way of the folder by a stud 94 which projects from the side of the folder socket 67'and carries a wheel 95 in position to strike the arm 86 ofthe crease guide and throw the latter forwardly and upwardly out of the Way. The spring 68, actin upon the folder, enables the latter tofyield when pressing upon the foldedfedge, as 'shown in Fig. 14, thus accommodating the irregularities in the thickness lof the leather or other material,

' and holding the` same upon the'block with la rm yielding pressure.-

While the folder remains in the position show-n in Fig. 14, the cam 21 causes the presser foot to rise, and atthis instant the slide. 77 is given a lateral movement, carry ing with it the block7 8 and folder 66,

which together feed the stock a step to the left. Then the folder is caused to release 'the stock and the slide is returned to its ffQld-nfs lowered into the position shown in' Fig. 11. It is located at one side of the' end thereof, and extends through only a' part of the width of the knife, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, where 96 represents the cutting edge. Below the cuttin edge and at the extreme end of the knife 1s an eXtension 97 which bears against the edge of the table when the knife is in action and resists any tendency which the stock might have to deiect the knife, owing to the bevel of its sharpened edge. The knife 'is located so as to pass by the block 78 in close proximity thereto, and the length of its cutting edge is as great or greater than the amount by which the edge or the stock projects beyond the supporting block 78, whereby the stock is snipped or slitted up to the line o`f fold, but no farther. j

The mechanism vby Which 'the folder is operated to turn over the edge ofthe stock and by which the feeding is effected lwill now be described. 98 represents a vertical shaft which is driven from the main shaft 9v through Vbevel gears 99 and 100. On the shaft are two cams 101 and 102, of which the former. is contained within a frame member 103, 4'pivoted to a stud 104, within the base of the machine. This frame is in effect a slotted lever of slight length. ascompared with the width of the slot. TheJ end of the frame or slotted lever 103 is pivoted connected with the arm '7 5 previously deto a link 105, of Iwhich the forward end is scribed onv the folding device holder. .As l

the frame'lever 106 and thearm 7 5 oscillate in different planes, therformerI swingingin a generally horizontal and the latter in a vertical plane, the link 105 is connected with them by ball and socket joints, in order to4 1 permit displacement of' the opposite ends of the link in different planes. The joints are formed `respectively by a pin 107 on the lever103, which p in hasa spherical-headA contained in a correspondingly recessed boX 108 en the link, while on the arm 7 5' is a pin 109 having a spherically formed hea-d or enlargement contained in a box 110 on the *forward end of the link. e

The cam 102 *has a groove 111 in its upi per face, which receives a roll 112 carried by one arm of the lever 113-',-which ispivoted at 114 to a.' stud within the base of the machine. The 'other arm 1133-01? the lever 113 is slottedand con'tainsa) in 115which isinovable along the slot. his pin projects also into a similar slot in one arm of the complemental lever 116, which is pivoted upon a stud 117. The'arm of the lever 116 on the opposite' side of the fulcrum from the slotted arm is provided with jaws 118, which embrace a block 119. pivcied unen a .stud 120 which projects downward from the slide 77. As the lever 113 is oscillated by f the cam 102, the slide 77.is 'correspondingly moved back and foilth, the block 119 sliding in the space between the jaws 118. At each movement of the jaws toward the left of the machine, the stock is fed one step, owing to 4 its being, clamped between the supporting block 78and folder 66, and upon the' return of the jaws to the right, the slide block and folder are returned in position to en-l gage a fresh portion ofthe stock.

One of the objects of my invention is to enable the iength o f the feed to be varied' `while the machine is in operation, and this is accomplished by making thethrow of the lever 116 variable. For this purpose the stud 115 is moved` in the slotted arms of the levers 113 and 116 between the pivots 114.4 and 117 of the respective levers. When the t pin is nearest to the fulcr'um 114 the' amounti neeted to an arm 122 rising from a-rock Awhich is preferably a shaft 123. 4 `Athird arm 124 on the rock shaft has connected to it a link 125 leading to a treadle. As the machine is intended to -be mounted upon a bench oijstandard, the

treadle is at some distance below it in such a position as to be accessible to the foot of the operator, and aS the treadle may be of any form or type and as its exact :form 1s noty a# feature of this invention, it. is not illustrated herein. When the treadle is soY operated as to draw the link '125 downward, .the pin 115 is moved toward the fulcrum` 117 andthe feed is increased. When the pressure on the treadle is relieved, the pin is returned into the -short feed,l position by a spring 121i actingupon a lever 127, which is connected with t e rock shaft 123 by a link 128 connected to the lever 127 and to an arm 129 on the rock shaft. The tendency of the spring-is to make the feed of the minimum amount Wheneverv the treadle is notoperated. An arm 130 extends from the lever 127 through a slot 131 in the side of the base to the outside ofthe machine, and serves as a means by whii'zh the feed may be varied manually, and also as a stop for governing the shorter limit of the feed. For `the purpose of carrying out the latter function, -arm 130 coperates` with stop 132, pin held in any one of a seriesof holes 133 in segmental plates 134 and 135 respectively aboveand below the 810i iai, the ein iijhfmY in any of the Vonly' necessary at curve straight edges if stock are ever it may be holes being ei tended across the slot. `Wlien the outline (f the edge to be folded is curved the st ip' pin 132 is set so that the cuts made by the shipping knife, the distances apart of which are governed by the amount of the feed, are near enoughr together to peimit the `folded edge to lie smoothly, ,these distances varying in accordance with thersharpnessv of the curva ture. When ai outline of more gradual curvature or a sti aight edge ispresented to the folding and sr ippingdevices, thefeed 1s in` creased by op iration vof the tre'adle` to the maximum am iunt, in order to economize time 11i perfor ming the work. Thus while the machine is in continuous operation, and

cuts and lengt is doubled over at each folding operation may be made 'close enough 'together and narrow enough respectively to produce a smc oth folded edge, while u on straight portions or parts of more. gra ual curvature the fe ding .speed may be increased. bined capabilitv with means for As snipping of'producing perfect work saving time in operation.`

of theiedlge to be folded is portions of `the edge to prevert stretching and tearing or puckering, I fnd advisable to provide means for thro ving the knife out of operation when its iseis not needed, 'as when isv done in the i1 .terest mainly of economy of time, as it saves wea'i1 on the cutting edge iof the knife and causes less frequent stoppage of the machine for resharpening the knife. lIt also, by eliminating one of the reciprocating parts,diminishes the vibration and increases the life of the machine as a Whole. Disconnection of the snipping cutter so that it remains inopirative is effected by disengagement of the head 52 previously described from the wing or arm 47 ofthe knife-carrier previously described, through mechanism cont rolled by the treadle which regulates sists of a rod 13:5 mounted beside the upper arm 4 kofthe machine, and' supported at one end by a. blanket 139. The end of the rod carries a `flai head or disk 140 arranged close beside the und of the pin 51. previously Thu: in lone machine are coInwithout interi upting the wor-k at all, the I acted on. This the feed. This mechanism conor head is at lea st as the knife, so th: what the end of great as the travel of t it always overlaps somebhe pin 51, and thus, whenreciprocated forwardly, it bears on the piu and moves vthe head `52 thereon out f engagement with the arm or vwing 47, leaving the knife bar `39 disengaged from its actuator, whereby thev knife is disabled and caused to remain stationary while the other mechanisms operate. The rear end of the lod 138 is'connected with a bell crank level V141 having a ngenerally 145 upon a stud projecting downward from the top 'wall of the base of the machine. This lever 144 has a- `bearing edge or surface 146 beneath which is an arm 147 connected to lthe rock shaft 123 previously described. When the treadle is operated and the shaft rocked So as to lengthen the feed, the arm 1-17 is swung forward and its upper end bears against the surface 146. This occurs when the pin` 115 is knear its forward limit, and thus the extreme movement of the treadle, after increasing the feed,vcauses the lever 14AV to be raised and the snipping knife to be thrown-out of operation through the connections lastdescribed acting upon the rod 138.

The effect of snipping the edge of the stock -and throwing the snipper out of operation is shown 'in Fig. 15. In thisfigure a piece of stock is shown having a reversely v curved edge and the upper portion of which is straight. The cuts made by the snippingjknife divide the edge to be folded into a`1 number of tongues 148, which when folded over spread apart at the concaveportions of the outline and overlap each other where the curvature of the edge is convex. Where the edge is straight no slits are made, but

the portion which is folded back is continuous. Althoughy the entire straight portion is not folded over at once, but a little at a time, the fold guide 84 preserves the line of fold, making it stra-ight and continuous.

As the feed `of the stock is entirely auto-- matic, being Icontrolled only as to the length of steps-,thereof by the operator, the duties of the latter are reducedto swinging 'the vstock back and forth so as to keep that portion of the edge which is acted upon per-y pendicular to the snipping knife and tangent to the folder 4so that' the tongues are properly formed and turned "and the' line' of old is maintained parallel to and at a., uniform ldistance from the oiginal edge of the stock.` v v p From a comparison with-Figs; 1- and 4 the timing-of the camsand the order o, t operations of the machine lwill befdetemined. It being assumedl thatfthe cams are rotatingy in the directiom of.` the `'arrows thepresser ,foot s' representedf as just returning to grip the stockafterit ,has been theparts in the`positions v1 ustrated-gis' the return of the; folder into the position shown in Fig. '1 2through the action offthecaml.v

101 on the rod 105.` By the time the ,folder lhas been swungiback 'clear of` the sup ortposition to act onthe stud 31 and toV depress Whfn these parts' yhave 'again come to rest, u

the lever 13 being held stationary by the dwell portion b of cam 101, the folder is raised by the cam groove 32 and'su'ung forward by the cam 101. Assoon as this urotionis complete the offset part c of cam 101 swings the-lever 113 and feeds the stock..y the cani projection 21V then being in position. to raise the presservfoot. At the time when the feeding members are returned to starting position, the snipping knife as wel i the folder-is depressed and theknife ii' sects the edge of the-stock, butas the sto is held vstationary by the -presser foot, the knife does not interfere in any way with the operations of the machine or injure the stoolsl It is desirable at times to raise the presser foot independently of the automatic mechanism provided for that purpose, and for this `@Jever 160 is provided. .This lever is pivoted upon a stud 161on thearm 4, and has one of its arms projecting under the lever 19. The other arm 160a is connected through.

` a link 162 with a treadle (not shown).

ed e of the stock first with a wiping action I to end up thel edge of the stock, and then ,with a turning action to carry the bentupedge back upon thebody of the stock.

'The wiping movement in which Athefold travels bodily enables lapproz'iimately first half of the turning operation tofbe. performed -quickly and .with a slight mov'ement of. the 'folder,-the stock -bein .Y held'- and the position of the fold located y the b Nthe rotary' moyement of the folder -f Va out an axis approximately coincident with thefoldingline. which. Avenables' this linev to be maintained even after the guide Slis'A removed, and Apermitsremoval of saidr guide at a comparatively early point. and" shown in these fres', 1t"w1l1 'be 'seen that before-it isJex'nbraccd bythe-folded' stock.

Thus theY rotarymovement of the folder is y 4 lifmited toanV arc of ,about 900, whereby p fed. -The step about to ber' yerformed jvit-hi.,t

such movement may be' produced by a simplecra.nk andl link motion, as v'here illustriid, wl1il,e=,the character of thelast part Ofthe fold,V being a-simple revoluble moveand destroying the continuity of thefol'd.

yThe snlpplng de vices located so close bef ment'jaboutthe line of -the fold, enablesr the preliminary 'guide ^Sl to be removed without `danger yor--liability of displacing the stock of the.

'however sharp,

side the folder that the tongue ivhich is formed by each cut ofi the knife is immediately thereafter engaged and turned up by the folder. That is,\in the folding opera-` tion the folder is practically against the knife and governs the widthof the tongues formed by the cuts of the knife by the distance which it travels during its feeding movement from thelatter.-4 Thus, Aas soon as a tongue is formed by the cutting action of the knife, it is'folded over, each tonguebeing folded as soon as' severed from the edge stock, and there being no tongues between the folding device and the cutter. Owing to this arrangement it is possible to form a fold upon an edge of any curvature, because the stock may be turned at any angle necessary to bring the cut perpendicular or normal to the edge of the stock, without displacing the tongue from the-folder. Provided the stock is so held that its outline or edge comes perpendicularrto the line of cut formed by the knife, it is correctly positioned with regard to both the knife and the folder, so that the tongue made by the knife is properly located to be turned about the perpendicular line 4of fold. This isrone of the most important features of the invention in that it fits the machine for operation of all characters of Work, whatever may be the curvature of the edges to` be folded, andthus makes a machine of universal application Within the limits bf this particulartype of work, and

avoids the neceity of substitution of new dies, or even of makin any adjustment of the machine when Wor having outlines of various` `forms or degrees of curvature is acted upon.

Mention has previously been made of the capability which is 'a yfeature of this machine of enabling the cutter to be thrown out ofvoperation when work having straight or gradually curved edges is acted upon. It is possible to so adjust the connections for disabling the knife that either the knife may be retained in operation at all times, even With the maximum feed, or it may be kept v out of operation, even when thefeed is shortened and the treadle or other device forgoverning the feed is left out` of operation.

For this purpose a certain amount of play.l

is left'between the pin 51 and guide 139, as shown -in Figs. 2 and 3, wherebyl the disk or head 40 on the rod 138 may be moved' p l back at so great adistance from the pm 51` erating saidl folding device whereby a porasto prevent'engagement therewith. The

A bell crank lever 141 is made in twoparts,

vided with a split hub'surrouridingV a. hu or" thimble of the arm 141.

,Ears 166 are formed on the hub and are, adapted to be drawn together by a screw or the like 167 away from the 1in 51 as `not to be-brought into engagement With the latter at any time.

The Word rotai Iily, where used in the foregoing descriptic n, and in the following claims, is intend :d to mean that the moveheld at any angle to fthe ment so qualified is movement occurring in a curved'path about I clai'rntv-s l 1. A fold' ng machine comprising a turna' center or axis.

Vinggdevite ,means for causing saidjturning device tof pares di on and release the stock, mechanism for moving the turning-device back and forth while respectively pressing i upon and clear-oi the stock to feed the `stock in a series of steps, and mechanism for 'varying thefate of feed while the machine es in operation.

- 2. A machine for folding the edges of sheet'stock, comprising a turning or folding 1 vdevice adapted t( yact on a short extent of stock, mechamsm for causlng a relative lateral movement between the stock and folding device tov be ef 'ected whereby the latter is enabled tol act slucessively upon contiguous portions of the stack, a snipping Cutter ar ranged to act on tl e stock beside said turning device, and means for increa-sin` the extent of such relative :novement an simultane ously disabling sa.:` d snipping cutter.

3. A folding michine adapted to double over the edge of sieet material and feed the same while undei pressure, comprising a turning or folding device adaptedv to act on short lengths of tie edge of such material, means for moving said folding ydevice while gripping the mate dal, a snipping cutter for making incisions in such edgefautomatic mechanismfor o1 erating'said cutter,` and means under the control of the operator of the machine' for making s aid` operating mechanism inoper: tive. l.

u A folding ma Ihine vfor folding `the edge of sheet material, comprising-fa gripper, a folding device movable at right angles to stock placed onv said gripper, and oscillavtively' about an axis substantially in the planeof the grippgr, and means for so option of the stock pr )jecting from the `gripper is bent over and do ibled back upon the body of the stock.

5. A folding machine for folding the edge ble to bend the edge' of the stock back upon stantially in the plane of thev table, means .for

so operating said folding device whereby a portion. of the stock pr`]ect1ng over such aperture is bent over and,y doubled back upon r the body of the stock, a gripping member [movable in the plane of the table and opposed to said folding device, arranged to co-l operate withtlie latter and grip the folded str it, and means for moving said gripping device and folding device simultaneously to feed 'the stock.

6. A machine foilfolding the edge of sheetI material, comprising a turning device movaitselfka supporting member cooperating with vsaid turning device to support the stock and i `grip the-edge thereof When folded, and

mechanism for moving said supporting device and turning device simultaneously in a direction transverse to the turning or foldinijr movement of the latter to feed the stock. A folding machineeomprising a table for supportingthe stock to be folded, saidy table having an aperture, a block movable inA said aperture and having a surface iush with the supporting surface of said table, a' folding device supported movably in said aperture in close proximity to said block, meehanismvformoving said folding device about the edge of said block in a curved path to fold over a projecting edge of the stock,

' said folding device being arranged to clamp ti Q the stock upon said block when folded, and mechanism for moving said block and folding device simultaneously While gripping the stock to feed the latter.

A folding machine comprising a ltal'ile for supporting the stock to be folded, said` k mechanism for .moving said block and folding device simultaneously While gripping vthe stockftoffeed the latter, anda presser foot holding the stock stationary upon the table While said block and folding device return to their starting position,

a a machine for raiding sie edge of 'Sheet material in a succession of operations, each x acting upon a limited extent of such edge,

comprising a folding device and a coperating Support and gripper, `both being movable inunison, mechanism for moving said ng device relatively tosaid support in Fons transverse to the edge of the stock amp the vfolded edge lagainst the supand mechanism for .moving said fold"V -edges of sheet material having rcurved or ,their relative movement, vvliereby the stock such fresh portion, means for changing the lo fold said edge back upon the stock a n l I n n u n ing device and support in their feeding direction, said mechanism being subsequently Voperative to return the folding device and@ support to their primary positions.

10."A machine for foldingk the edge of sheet material in a series of successive steps, comprising eoperating gripping members, one of which is movable relatively to the other in such manner as to double back the edge of the stock and grip the doubled or folded edge, and mechanism for moving said gripping members simultaneously7 in'a direction transverse to that of their relative movement for feeding the stock, said mechanism being operativeto return 'said mein bers to their primary position, whereby they are enabled to act upon a fresh portion of thestock.

11. A folding machine adapted tofold the edges` of sheet materiahhaving curved or straight edges, comprising cooperating gripping members normally .occupying a position in which' the edge of the stock may extend across both members, means for moving and guiding' vone 'of said members in a direction such as to foldjover the' edge of the stock and grip it against the other members, mechanism for moving said members in unison in a direction transverse to that of theirV relative4 movement, iihereby the stock is fed to present a fresh portion tothe action ofsaid members, said mechanism being subsequently operative to return the members to their primary position ready to engage such Kfresh portion, and a cutter arranged beside said members for snipping the edge of the stock when such edge is curved. I 12. A folding machine adapted to fold the straight edges, comprising coperating gripping members normally occupying a position in Which the edge o'f the stock may eX- tend across both members, means for moving and, guiding one 'of said members in a directionl such as to fold over the edge of thestockand grip it against the other memi ber, mechanisinfor moving said members in unison in a direction transverse to that of is fed to presenta freshplortion to the actoin of said members, said mechanism being subsequently operative to return the members to their primary pfosition ready to engage extent of'such' transverse motion to increase or diminishthe ,rate of feed', a cutter arranged adjacent to said members and auto- 'during thefreturni movement of said 1 memberaand Vmeans yassociated with said.-

Vmatically operatedto snip the edge of the v yzii feed changing means and controlled by lthe Y operator of` the machine for throwing said lcutter outjof operation Whenthe rate of' feed lisiucreased to the maximum emem, ,f1

ibe placed', coperating folding and gripping Hiss devices arranged iu said aperture and movable in unison therein, said members beimr normally in such position that the stocli may extend across both, mechanism for moving and guiding one of said members partially around the other, whereby the edge of the stock is doubled and lrripped between said members, mechanism members to feed the stock, and a presser foot arranged'to clamp the stock stationary upon the table while said members are rc- `turned to their primary position.

.14. A folding machine forV doubling the edge of sheetmaterial in a series of steps, coi'nprising a support for thc stoclc'afold guide arranged to bear' on the stock at the line ofthe fold, a turning device movable from a position beside said support around the line of fold into a` position opposed to said support, whereby the folded edge is 'prisscd between it and the support, and Ineens for producing a relative lstep by step lateral feed movementbetween the stock and said support and turningdevice for causing the turning device to act on successive portions of the stock, said guide .serving to maintain the line of the fol-d after cach step` oi' the feed. y

15. A folding machine comprising a support for the stock to be folded, a turning device normally located beside` said ,support` so that the edge of the stock projiating from the latte-rmay extciulovcr said turning dcvice, a fold guide arranged to bearon the stock at the line of fold, mechanism for moving said turning device transversely to the plane of the support whereby the cdgc is bent up :round said guideyaud mechanism for swiin ing saidl .turning dcvicc about a-u axis approxinuitely coincident with theliuo offold, whereby the folded cdgc is laid- [iat against the stock. Y

16. Ina fold'ng machine a support upon which the stockfma `be laid with the edge to be folded pro'ecti g beyond the support, a turning or fo din devicehav'ing. asurl face continuing fro ."the supporting surface of said support over which the edge of the stock is laid, said folding device having a4 second surface beside the support and transverse to the supporting surfacel thereof,

mechanism'for lmoving said turning device bodily across the plane of the stock, whereby thev edge of the saine is turned up and brought into contact with the second named "surface ofisuid turningv device, and means' for rotating said turning device about an "Itis parallel to tliefplane of the stock, Whereed is approximatel)r or moving said" by the second surface of thcl turning device is carried ovei and against the support.

17. ,In a follin r machine, a table havingV an aperture, a fol( ing or turning device contained movablv in said aperture and having its side appro xiinatelv in the plane of the vtable and close to the forward edge ol the aperture, so Vtl at the edge of the stock to be 18. In a foding machine a support for the stock to be folded, a folder guide intersecting the pli ne of said support and Inovable transverse y to said plane, a folder garried hysaid glide with its end portion normally in such relation to said support that the edge of the stock may eXtendtheieover, 4

mechanism for moving said guide and folder across the pl ine of the support, whereby the overlying edge of the stock is bent up and brougli t against the end of the folder, and mechanisn foi-'moving said folder in its guide, the latter being curved about an axis parallel tothe plane of 'the support, whereby the folder is caused to swing around and over the support with theedge of the materia-l between itself and the support.

1%). Feed mechanism for a machine of the class describel comprising a fold'pressing member movable in a' direction at right a lever for bodily moving said member to effect the feeding movement, a continuously actuated arm, a pivot connecting said lever and arm, and means for varying the 4amplitudeof movement of said pivot and thereby the rate of feed. A

20. A folding machine comprising a sup` port and a tufning device arranged side bv Side so that ii sheet of stock may'be laid.

over both, an mechanism for giving said ed to bear upon the stock for locating the fold, an arm )y which said guide is carried.

yielding means acting upon said arm tending to hold the guide against the stock, a

-about'theedge of said guideto a position 1n' which it baars against Said support, and

angles to the .vork for engaging said work,

lfolding device movable in a curvilinear-path i a projection carried by said foldin device arranged to bear on said arm when t e fold-` ing'device approaches the support for displaci theguide from between the support and fo ding device.

22. In a vfolding machine va supporting member' for ythe 'stocl i movable in the plane for av fol ofits supporting surface, a holder or guide device crossing the plane of said support, `a sliding connection by which saidholdr is engaged with said support,

wherebyit may slide transversely nof the anism formoving said slide, said mecha? plane of the support, `but is 4compelled to movef with the latter, an actuator for said Iholder movable transverse to the plane of thesupport and with'which said holderl has,

a connectionpermitting movement relatively thereto of -the holder in the. directions of movement of thesupport, and a folding devicecarried by said holder and movable relatively thereto in directions transverse to the movements of both the holder and supporte 23.l In a folding machinea support for the stock, said support being movable in the plane of its supporting surface, a guide or holder for a foldin device, a reciprocating carrier for said hol er movable transversely to the plane of said support, sliding connec-v tions between said holder, its carrier and support, whereby the holder is compelledto move withboth, and a folding device carried by said holder and'movablethereon in a curvedpath about an axis parallel to the direction of movement ofthe support.

24. In a folding machine mechanism for vbothfolding and feeding the stock, comprising a pair of'coperating gripping members, a guide or holder for one of sald me-m. bers whereby the latter is constrained to move from a position in which it underlies the edge of the stock to a'position over the other member,`wherein it coiperates with the latter to grip the stock, a slide to which one of said grippers and the holder of theother gripper" are :both connected, and 'mechnism being timed to operate whenthe stock isgrasped by said gripping members, Where- "V bythe feed is accomplished.

' support forstocl, a folder lot-ated adjacent to the edge of said support so that the edge- A .25. In a folding machinea support, a folding device locateiil`4 close to theedge of said 'support whereby the material placed, on the latter ma'y project over the folder, a vcurved guide by which said folder is carried, mechanism for moving said guide and with it the folder into a position wherein its center of curvature is approximately coincident with the 'supporting surfacc'of said support, and means foimoving said folder upon said guide, 'whereby'-t'hefolder is rotarily moved about the edge of the'support.

2U. A folding mechanism .comprising a of the i .iterial placed on the latter may cxtend over lthe folder, mechanism for movof the support, whereby the edge of the stock is turned with a wiping actlon, and

means for-subsequently rotating the folder i .ing said folder first transversely to the plane of the stock to be folded is rfirst wiped into an upright position and then bent over upon the body ofthe stock.

28. In afolding machine lcombined folding and feeding instrumentalities adapted to act upon a limited extent ofthe material to be folded at each operation, comprising a supporting member, 'a fold-turning member movable about said supporting member to fold thestock, into a position for gripping the folded stock, and mechanism for moving'said members simultaneously when in gripping'relation, for vfeeding the stock.v

29. A machine for folding sheet material upona .line at a uniform distance from the edge thereof, comprising folding and grippingmembers arranged 'to'act on a limited extent ofthe edge ofthe material, means forl producing a. relative movement between said members for turning and gripping a portion of the stock acted upon, feeding mechanism for moving said members in unison to feed the stock'and. for returning the members into positionto'grip a fresh portion of thestock, means for snipping the edge of the 'stock between thets'teps lofthe feed thereof, and mechanism operable at anyinstant for varying the extent of travel produced by said feeding-means, whereby'` the cuts produced byv saidsnippingmeans may-be located suiiciently 'near to one? 'anotherto produce a smoothfold at curved portions of the line of. fold.

30; AIn a machine'for folding'the edges of sheet material, complementa'll folding and gripping members, means for moving' one of said members around and over the other to fold and ygrip the stock, means for snipping 'the edge of the stock in advance of 'each action of said members,'mechanism -for reciprocating said membersv 1n unison 'in one direction when grlpping the stock and 1n another direction when free from the stock,

and means operable to vary the extent of travel of said members while the machine is in operation, whereby the cuts produced by.

such snipping' means may be located closely together at 'curved portions of the stock and the feed may be accelerated when approximately straight parts of the stock are acted upon. I

31. A n'iachine for folding the edges of sheet material and particularly of parts of shoe uppers, comprising a pair of folding and grippingmembers. adapted to act upon a limited extent of the stocloa snipping cutter beside said members, means for giving a succession of folding movements to such members, mechanism for causing said members. to travel in unison between folding o'f'ierations so as to feed the stock, and means for causing said cutter to snip the edge of the stock between feeding movements of the said members.

3Q. A machine for folding the edge of sheet material in a series of steps, compris-v ing cooperating folding members arranged to act at any one time upon only a limited extent of the material, means for moving said. members 4-in unison between folding operations so as to feed the material, and a single snipping cutter arranged beside said folding members 'to snip the edge of tlie stock prior to the several folding operations. 53. A machine for folding the edge of sheet material in a series of steps, comprising cooperating folding members arranged to act-at any one time upon only a limited eX- tent of the material, means for moving said .mcnibers 4in unison between folding operations so as to feed thematerial, a single'snipping cutter arranged beside said folding members to snip' the edge of the stock prior such as to fold over the overlying edge .ofy

to the several folding operations, andmechanisiu for causing the extent of feeding movements of said members to be vaiied'in the cour i of the operation of the machine,

' whereby the cuts maybe located closely togethcr at sharply curved portions of the material and the progress of the" work may be accelerated overstraighter portions of ila stock.

LH. A. folding machineorganized to form 4a continuous fold in a series of steps, com-v prising cooperating gripping members, one of 4which is .movable from a positionr beside the other, wherein it underlies the Stock, into a position wherein it is snperposedl upon the other and gripsV the stock, its path in moving from one position to the other being the stock, mechanism for moving such inemi ber back and forthbetween such positions, mechanism for moving said members simul taneously in a direction transverse to th direction of folding movement while gripiing the stock, and for returning them afte re lease of the stock, whereby thestock istfed `:step-by step` between folding operations, aiid means for varying the extent of feedi g travel.

354. A' folding machine. organized to' form a continuous fold in a se-ries'of steps, compijismg cooperating gripping members, one

of which is mwable from a position beside the other, wh erein it underlies the stock, into a-position wherein it is superposed upon the other and grips the stock, its path -in moving from one position to the other being lsuch as to fold over the overlying edge of the stock, mecianism for moving such member back and forth between such positions,

proportions oi their engaging arms, whereby the extent of feeding travel is varied.

36. A folding machine organized to'form lacontin'uous fold in a series ofsteps, comprising cope 'ating gripping members, one of which is n ovable from a position beside the other, wherein it underlies the stock, into a position w ieiein it is superposed upon the other and grips the stock, its path in movingfrom )ne position to the other being such as to fo d over the overlying edge of the stock, mechanism for moving such member back and forth between such positions,

and mechanism for moving said members simultaneously7 in a direction transverse to the direction of folding movement while gripping the Steele-and for "returning them. after release of the stock, whereby the stock,`

between folding opera-- is fed step by Vstep tions, said me hanisi'n comprising an operati ing lever, a d liven lever connected Witlrsaid gripping members, and a connecting device between the'iwo levers, said connecting device being mo vable ,with` respect to the Vpivots of the levers to lengthen the arm of either and simultaieously shorten the enga ring arm of the 'oiher,whereby the amplitu e of oscillation of the drivenlever and thereby the extent of each step of the feed Inaybe varied. r

37. A folding machine 'organized to form a continuous fold in a4 series of steps, comprisingcopi rating gripping members, one

of which is movable from a position beside the other, Wh frein it underlies the stock, into a position wt erein itis superposed upon the other and grips vthe stock,` its path in` movingV from one position to the otherbeing suoli asto fold ol 1er the overlying edge of the stock, mechaiism for moving such member back and forth between such positions, and

mechanism for moving said members siinultaneously in a direction transverse to the ,direction of folding movement lwhile gripping 4the s'toc t, and for returning them aft'er release of the stock, hereby the stock'is fed step by step l etween o] ding operations,said

. mechanism comprising lthe lever lengaged creasing: the effective length of one arm while decreasing the effective length of the other, thus varying the'lengltli of the feeding steps.

38;'111 a foldings machine a slide having provisions for supporting and grasping Work, a folder connected to said slide'so as to be movable therewith and being mounted also ,for movement transverse to that of the slide, a lever .connected to said slide for .vibrating the latter, a driving lever, said levers having overlapping arms, a connecting pin engaged in the slots of said arms, a link engaged with said pin, a rocker connected to said link and movable in the general direction of said slotted arms, whereby the'pin may be shifted to alter the effective lengths of the arms, and means controlled by the operator of the ma-A hine for swinging said rocker. ,r 'y

539'. A foldingmachine organized toV forni a continuous fold in a series of steps, comprijsing coperating gripping members, one of which 1s movable from' a position' beside the' ot-her, wherein it underlies the stocln u intoa-"position wherein it is superposed uponthe other and grips the stock, its path in moving from one position to the-other being such as to fold over the overlying edge of the stock, mechanism for moving such member back and forthl between such posi- Y tions, mechanism for moving said members simultaneouslyjn a direction transverse to the directioniof folding movement while gripping the stocln'and for returning them after release ofthe stock, whereby the stock is fed: step by step-between folding operations, -saidv mechanism including complemental levers4 and a "connecting member shiftable to -vary the effective lengths o'f the connected arms on vsaid lf; "vers, means' 'adapted to be operated by the machine operator for moving said connection in the direction necessary to increase the length of-.the feeding steps, and automatic means for -nioving Said connection in .the feed-shortening direction.

' 'i 40. A'folding machine organized to' forni a continuous fold in fa series of 'steps` comprising vcooperating gripping' members, one of which. is movable--from'a position beside the other, wherein it underlies the stock, into a position wherein itis superposed upon the 'oth'erand grips the stock, its path in moving from one position to the other being such as to fold over the overlying edge of thev stock, mechanism for movingsuch member back and forth between suchvpositions, mechanism for moving said members simultaneously in a direction transverse to the direction of folding movement while gripping the stock, and for returning them after release of the stock, whereby the stock is fed step by step. between folding operations, said mechanism including complemental levers and a connecting member shiftable to vary the effective -lengths of the connected arms on said levers, means adapted to be operated by the machine operator for moving said connection in tliedirection necessary to increase. the length of the feeding steps, auto.- matic means for moving said connection in the feed-shortening direction, and an adjustably located stop for limiting the action of said automatic means 'and thus defining the minimum feed. v i

4l. A foldingmachine organized to form al continuous fold in a series of steps? comprising coperating gripping members, one of which is movable from a p'osition beside the other, wherein it underlies the stock,` into a position wherein it is su erposed upon the other and grips, tthe stocl, its path in moving from one position to the other being such as to fold over the'overlying edge of the stock mechanism for moving such member back and forth between such` positions, mechanism forinoving said memberssimultaneously in a direction transverse to the direction of folding movement while gripping the stock, and ,for returning them after release ofthe stock, whereby the stock is fed step by step between folding operations, a snipping cutter arranged adjacent to said members for cutting theedge-of the material prior to each operation of said Agripping members, an actuator for said cutter, mechanism for disconnecting the cutter from said actuator, and a single device controlled by the operator of vthe machine for increasing the extent ofthe feeding movement of said gripping members andv operating said ,cutter-disconnecting mechanism. y

' 42. In a folding machine ofthe character indicatedv a folder or fold-turning device.,

a 'snippingknife, a'reciprocatively guidedl carrier for said knife, a reciprocating actuator for the fold-turning device engaged with said carrier', and means'for disengaging said actuator from said knife lcarrier while the machine continues in full operation, to permit folding without snipping.

43. In a folding machine of the character indicated a folder .or fold-turning device,V a reciprocating actuator for the same, a slitting knife beside said folder, an .intermediate connector between said knife and i an folder actuator whereby said-knife is also lill operated by said actuator, and mechanism for discngaging said connection to render said knife inoperative while the folder continues inoperation. y

44. In a folding machine a reciprocating folding device, a reciprocable snipping knife, a carrier for the saine, a reciprocatin actuator connected to and moving with said folding device. said knife carrier and actuator having adjacent wings or arms, a bloclr carried by one of said'wings adapted to engage the other. and transmit motion from saidactuator` to said knifel :ai-rior, and means controlled by the. operator of the machine for moving said block out of engagement with one 'of the wings, whereby said knife is disabled while the.-folding'de vice remains in operation.

45. In a folding machine a reciprocating knife-carrying bar, a slitting knife secured thereto, an actuator guided to reciprocate beside said bar, a collar on said bar, said collar and actuator having projections arranged side by side, a rod carriedby one of said projections having a head movable into engagement with the other projection, whereby movement is transmitted from the actuator to the knife carrier, a stationary bar in line with said rod and having an end surface coextensive with the travel of said rod and u,in close 'proximity to the end of the latter,"a`nd'mechanism controlled by the operator of ,the machine for forcing said bar against said rod and thereby disengaging the head from one of said projections. Y l

46. In a machine of the character de scribed a base, a work-supporting table upon said base. an Varm overhanging the base, a bar guided on the end of said arm to reciprocate toward and from said table and having a stud extending parallel with theV plane o'f the table, a` guide or holder for a folding device suspended from said stud and passing through .an aperture in the table, a slide mounted `in guideways beneath said table and also having an aperture through which vsaid guide or holder passes, a guide rod extending. from said slide. parallel to said reciprocating bar, a sleeve on .said guideenjbracing said post and adapted to slide thereon, a folder mount d 4tol slide upon a curved guideway o'n sai with said folder for moving the its guide.

47.- A machine for folding over the edge of sheet inateriah comprising snipping means arranged to make a. succession of incisions in the material extending in saine along 'Wardly vfrom the edge. thereby forming tongues, cooperating folding devices eoiistructed to act on :rliiiiited extent of the material arranged and located near said holder, and mechanism connected shipping means and mechanism for actuating said folding devices to double back each tongue" asv soo'n az: formed and before another tongue has been made by a 'subsequentfaction of the snipping means.

48. A folding machine comprising a cutter, means for ope `ating said cutter tomake a series of,cllts, ei tending inward from the edge of the material to be folded, as the material is fed last the same, a ,translatively and rotatii ely movable folder, and mechanism for ca ising said folder Ito dou-y ble vback the tongues formed in the -edg'e of the material, said folder being located close beside said c'itter, whereby the tongue formed by the last cut of the latter is folded.

over by the folder prior to the next feed of the material.

49. A'folding ir achine comprising a eutter, means for `operating said cutter to make a series` of cuts, extending inward from the edge of the material to be folded, as

the material is fed past .the same, and a folder arranged cose beside said cutter at a less distance tlerefrom thalrthe Width of any single tongue formed by a vcut ofthe latter, and being movable towardand from the same to feed the stock.

50.1AV machine for folding the edge'of sheet material in i, series of steps, comprisy ing a folding dev use constructedto act on a limited extent of the edge to be folded and to Whieh'such edge `is fed progressively step by step, and a ycutter located in :the line of feed of the stoz'k and ata less distance from `said folder t 1an the length of a single step of the feed.'

51In a Amachine for folding the edges of sheet material, a support for the ina terial, a folding device, and a holder for said folding devi( ef by which the latter is constrained 'to aan e partly around said support and toward the supporting surface thereof, said foldii g device beingyieldingly mounted upon said holder to accommodate stock of vai-ying t iicknesses.

52. In a machine for folding the edges of sheet material, a lfupport for the material,` a folding device including a springqirojected block or clamp, and a holder for said folding device, by which the latter is constrained to move partly around said slipport and toward the supporting surface thereof, said block or clamp being enabled to yield when pressed toward the support, so as lo accommodate stoel; of various thicknesses.

53. A folding machine comprising a support for the stock to be folded, a turning device normally lo .ated beside said support so thatxjthc stock oli the Vsupport may proovei; the-turni ig device',mechanism for moving "said tur'nn g device asl a whole 'transversely'of the plaie ofthe support to bend .iio 

